New England Patriots: Suddenly Stuck With More Questions Than Answers

The question for the New England Patriots all week was whether they should rest their starters to let them stay healthy, or let them play to get momentum heading into the playoffs.

The Patriots took the gloomy snowfall in New England with them on Sunday when they played their starters, and lost not only the game, but one of, if not the key cog in their offense.

Wes Welker held his knee in a manner eerily similar to Tom Brady's Week One injury of yesteryear.

Just like yesteryear, Welker stared up from the ground, writhing in pain.

Just like yesteryear, Welker was helped off the field by two trainers.

Only difference is, no one struck Welker.

He fell of his own accord, his tendons stretching like an accordion as his knee bent to the inside toward the turf.

He wept on the sidelines, as he watched an historic statistical season come to a screeching halt just a week before the postseason.

He may have wept harder if he were present to watch the Patriots choke up yet another fourth quarter lead.

Now, just like Wes Welker, the Patriots' hopes for the postseason are in doubt.

Just like Welker's knee, the Patriots confidence is severely injured.

The Houston Texans had their way with the Patriots on both sides of the ball in the fourth quarter, putting up 21 unanswered points on the Pats.

The Patriots' defense aren't the only ones to blame. Tom Brady seemed to fall out of rhythm late in the game. I'm sure it didn't help not having Welker in the slot, ready to convert 3rd-and-whatever all day. 

Instead, Brady was sacked on 3rd-and-4 to force a three-and-out, and then threw a rare late-game interception which allowed the Texans to score the go-ahead touchdown.

So the question all week was "what"; what will Belichick do—rest his starters, or play them?

And now, the question has become "why?"

As pointed out by a fellow columnist, this game was nearly meaningless for New England. It doesn't really matter what seed the Patriots have going into the playoffs, as the caliber team they'll be facing will be virtually the same.

I could understand playing the starters if the game meant something (and not just on a seeding level), but Belichick risked harm to his starters for "what" reason, to keep his team in rhythm?

Clearly, that didn't work.

Now, with the Patriots' star player injured, their star in the playoffs appears to be fading.

The Patriots, as they have done several times this season, looked great for the first three quarters of the game.

When they play like that, they look like they can beat anyone.

But a game of football isn't a sprint; it's a marathon. The first three quarters of a game don't matter if you can't hold a lead in the fourth quarter.

The season is a marathon, as well; and the Patriots appear to be fading coming down the homestretch.

It's uncertain which Patriots team we'll see in the postseason; the team that started the season 7-3, or the team that finished the season 3-3.

The team that dominates the first three quarters of the game, or the team that chokes up fourth quarter leads.

The Patriots playoff hopes have shriveled like an onion in an oven.

There are still so many questions, and Belichick and the Patriots have begun to run out of answers.